Embankment Mooring Ring Lions
London England
2012

“When the lions drink, London will sink” “When it’s up to their manes, we’ll go down the drains”

Ever noticed these lion head mooring rings on South Bank embankment, outside County Hall? They're well worth keeping an eye on.

They're used as a river flood level monitor. Superstition has it that when the water gets high enough that the lions start drinking, London's at risk of flooding.

The lions were sculpted by Timothy Butler for Sir Joseph Bazalgette’s Victorian sewage works programme in 1868-70.

https://livinglondonhistory.com/beasts-on-the-banks-a-walk-along-the-thames/

Take a stroll along the Victoria embankment and you will find lions, eagles and camels. Don’t worry this isn’t me reporting some sort of zoo break-out scenario, I am referring to the wonderful array of animal decorations and memorials that brighten up the the embankments. We’re talking fish lampposts, camel benches, a giant 13 ton lion and more.

This walk will take you from Blackfriar’s bridge (nearest tube station: Blackfriars) along to Lambeth Palace (nearest tube: Lambeth North).

These bronze lion mooring rings were created for Bazalgette’s new embankments in 1868.

The myth goes: ‘When the lions drink, London will sink. When it’s up to their manes, we’ll go down the drains’.

It is however out of date now. 12 inches of height was added before the Thames Barrier was constructed in 1984. There have been more very high tides since the 1980s that would have flooded the old embankment.

Here is my new suggested rhyme: ‘When the lions drink, your heart may sink. Don’t worry though, there’s 12 inches to go!’. Comment below if you have any better ideas!